Flying-machine.



' -e. F. MYERS,

FLYING MACHINE APPLICATION HLED SEPT. 20, I905.

Patented May 22, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1- G. F. MYERS FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 20. 1905.

Patented May 22, 1917.

- 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- wn'ugssis G. F. MYERS. FLYING MACHINE.

I APRLICATION FILED SEPT. 20, I905- Patented May 22, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- W TNESSES 7%M0M 4 7 6 F 21/! UNITED sTAT sPetrENT OFFICE.

GEORGE FRANCIS MYERS, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

, FLYING-MACHINE.

Patented May 22, 1917.

Application filed September 20, 1905. Serial No. 279,281.

invention, such as will enable'others skilled in the art to which it appertains'to make and use the same. 2

' claims.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in flying machines, and comprises certain novel constructions and combinations of parts as hereinafter described and specifically pointed out in the In the accompanying drawings:

" Figure 1 represents a front elevation of a machine embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof.

Fig.3 is a plan View and partial section of'the lower portion of the machine along the line 55 of Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

' the next 'lower plane; also the sides of the Referring to 'the drawings, it will be noted that, as illustrated herein, the aeroplane consists preferably of .a number of annular planes a. arranged in series one above the other, and strongly braced by a series of stays b which extend radially from a bottom ring 0 to the topmost member of the series of planes. The said planes while shown as very narrow, are preferably so related to each other that their diameters lessen-from the topmost to the lowermost of the series. In fact this lessening of the diameters of the series ,of planes is preferably so carried out'that, when viewed in plan, the inner diameter of the top plane practically coincides' with the outer diameter of the next adjoining plane. In other words, the advancing edge of the topmost plane for instance is forward, of the advancing edge of said topmost plane for instance: extend-farther to the sides than the sides of the next lower plane. It will also be noted that the car 10; also that the retreating. sides'of o as well as the upper planes 0;, at, a, preferably have a substantially unobstructed space between the sides thereof intowhich w preferably extends or projects; also the lower plane 0 is preferably divided, or constructed in sections, and extends on either side. of 'w.

Below the said planes is preferably located a series of rings i and and the space'below the said rings is covered with fabric j or the like, so as to 'form a bowlshape or saucer-shape aeroplane.

The operating portion of the machine preferably consists of the annular plane a, covered as shown, and connected by radial braces 11 and a ring 0 to an inner rin '11-. This portion may be suspended by suitable suspending rods from the upper structure,

and is provided preferably with a walking board or car or carrying place for the operator w upon which the operator may stand,-

sit or lie; other parts of the same being indi-i I cated by 'w w", w and w To suitable uprights o are hinged the inner vertical axes of one. or more vanes 12. Operating ropes o extend from the free vertical edges of the said vanes,,so that by pulling upon these ropes the said vanes may be so adjusted that either one or the other, or both,'as the case may be, may present its flat surface to the wind, thus turning the machine to the right or left as desired.

The flying machine is preferably provided with two engines oppositely disposed. These engines may conveniently be explosion enginese' having supply tankse water tanks 6 and radiators 67*. Upon-' the shafts 6 6 of these engines are loosely-mounted the propellers e 6 and clutches e operated by the levers e couple the said propellers to the shafts when desired. These two propellers may be coupled to their shafts simultafaster than the other Stabilizin means are preferably three in number 3 and f and are placed symmetrically or equidistantly about the said platform, or triangularly with respect to each other as shown in thedrawings; so that the operator can increase the, stability machine. 1 3

Sheaves f on the shaft 6 actuate the ropes ff, which pass over the idlers f to sheaves f on the shaft fl, and a clutch is of the provided upon the said shaft. i for operating the said stabilizing means f when destabilizing means f may be thrown in or out of action; and similarly by actuating the lever f the opposite stabilizing means f may be thrown in or out of action; if it be desired to raise onerflside of the machine more than the other. Preferably the said stabilizing means f and f is mounted between the aeroplanes v and j, or 'v and a; and is placed on the opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the car to on lateral extensions projecting outwardly on each side of the said center line; they are mounted away from the said car and away from the said aeroplanes each on a separate lateral projection projecting outwardly on each side of the said center line; the axes of the said stabilizing means being mounted adjacent to the periphery of at least one of the said aeroplanes.

The last mentioned stabilizing means, or fore and aft elevating device, 7" for shifting the machine to a higher or lower level may be operated in the same manner as f if desired, the lever f eflecting the coupling and uncoupling. v

Another expedient for shifting the machine to a higher or a lower level, is to operate f alone, or f and f conjointly. Also if it be desired to raise one side of the machine more than the other, f and f, or f andf may be operated simultaneously. To turn to the right or left, either one or the other of the forwardly driving propellers may be used, as the-case may be; or

the vanes '0 may be used.

The operation of the machine is substantially as follows: The machine may be started in several ways, as for instance, it may be dropped from a height by means of a balloon; or a collapsible balloon may be used which might in this case beh'eld inside the said bowl shaped aeroplane the inside thereof forming a nest for the balloon when collapsed, and the outside thereof forming an aeroplane; or the machinemay be started in any well known manner, as for instance allowing the machine to slide down an incline with'an upturned lower portion; or the machine may be started on wheels.

In this latter case the operator preferably stands on the cross platform fw which may form the floor of the car, having all the levers as e and e", which control. the clutches of the two motors; the lever f controlling f, with which to lift the front end of the machine; and the levers f and f which control the lateral stabilizers f and f.

After. the engines have been started the operator throws in the clutches of both the of flight; and thereby lifting the machine off the ground.

The machine being in flight, the operator controls its motion around its three principal axes: around its vertical axis either by slowing down or stopping one or the-other of the said forwardly driving propellers, or by the use of the vertical rudders '0 around its transverse axis by operating 7, thereby rectifying the vertical displacement; .and around its longitudinal axis by manipulating either f' or f, if the machine should tip sidewise, both f and f being normally out of action. But it will be noted that when the operator places the said lateral stabilizing means in action they will turn the machine on its longitudinal axis only, and have no tendency to turn the machine to the right or left, and therefore he does not have to use his vertical rudder to rectify the same.

If f and f should be mounted nearer' the forwardly driving propellers, thatis nearer the center of gravity of the machine, then they were used as lateral stabilizing means they would be more efficient; but their efficiency as fore and aft stabilizing means would be decreased; therefore they are mounted preferably as described.

As my invention is, in many of its aspects, generic I do not limit myself to the particular construction shown or described, but also contemplate the employment-of such equivalents as fairly fall within the scope of the claims.

In this connection I may say that I do not limit myself to a strictly horizontal projection for the aeroplanes, norto any particular form of propelling or stabilizing means.

Nor do I limit myself for instance to the planes being circular or annular inshape, as any kind or shape of plane may be employed; nor to two engines driving-two forwardly drivingpropellers, and the said propellers may be made reversible, as shown in my companion application Serial No. 210,486, now Patent 995,550; nor to radial uprights for the planes, for the said uprights may be placed parallel as shown in my companion application Serial No. 621,233; nor to the stabilizing means being in propeller form, as I may make them in the form of planes, as also shown and described in the said lastmentioned application, where I speak of planes being used to keep the aerodyne from pitching and rolling.

This application, in part, is a continuation of my application filed January 29, 1897, and serially numbered 621,233.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is:

1. A flying machine comprising anaeroplane normally inclined to the horizontal, a plurality of stabilizers normally out of action and mounted one on each side of the longitudinal center. line of the machine, means for placing the said stabilizers in action, a front and rear tilting device, means for operating the said device motive power, longitudinal shafts rotated by the'said motive power, clutches for the said shafts, propellers mounted on the said shafts, and means for operating the said clutches.

2. A flying machine comprising a car, an aeroplane normally inclined to the horizontal, a plurality of stabilizers mounted one on each side of the said car and normally out of action, means for placing the said stabilizers in action, and direct connections comprising a cord between the said stabilizers whereby the same may be operated simultaneously.

3. A flying machine comprising a car, an aeroplane with a free periphery normally inclined to the horizontal and extending outwardly on each side of the longitudinal center line of the said car, a second aeroplane also extending outwardly on each side of the said center line and vertically disposed to the said first mentioned aeroplane, a plurality of openly spaced uprights connecting the said aeroplanes, a plurality of stabilizers normally out of action mounted on axes substantially transverse to the line of flight one on each side of the said center line with substantially all of their active surfaces when in action practically unobstructed to the impinging air from all directions, means for placing the said stabilizers in action, a device for rectifying the vertical displacement, and means for operating the said last mentioned device.

. 4. A flying machine comprisinga car, an aeroplane having a substantially free pcriphery and normally inclined to the horizontal and extending outwardly on each side of the longitudinal center line of the said car, a second aeroplane vertically'disposed to the said first mentioned aeroplane and also extending outwardly on each side of the saidcenter line, openly spaced uprights connecting the said aeroplanes near their peripheries, a shaft having an axis lying outsideof the body of each of the said aeroplanes and mounted on one side of the said center line, a similar shaft similarly mounted on the opposite side of the said center line, a stabilizer mounted on each of the said shafts and situated-so as to receive the impinging air-from all directions on substantially the whole of the underside rality of openly spaced uprights connecting the said aeroplanes near their peripheries, a plurality of stabilizers mounted between the said aeroplanes one on each side of the said car and situated so as to receive the impinging air from all directions on substantially the whole of the underside thereof when in action, means for placing the said stabilizers in action, and connections between the said stabilizers.

6. A flying machine comprising a car, an aeroplane with a free periphery normally inclinedto the horizontal and curved longitudinally, a second and substantially flat plane, connections between the said planes, a device comprising a stabilizer mounted on one side of the said car between the said planes having an axis lying near the periphery of oneof the said planes and situated so as to receive the impinging air from all directions on substantially the whole of the underside thereof when."active, another and similar stabilizer similarly mounted on the opposite side of the said car, a device for rectifying the vertical displacement mounted so as to receive the impinging air from all directions on both the top and the bottom thereof when active substantially equally, a device for steering to right and left comprising a vertical rudder, and means for operating all of the said devices.

7. A flying machine comprising a car, an aeroplane with a free periphery normally inclined to the horizontal, a second aeroplane verticallydisposed to the said first mentioned aeroplane both of the said aeroplanes extending on each side of the longitudinal center line' of the said car, openly spaced uprights connecting the said aero1 planes, a' plurality of stabilizers mounted one on each side of the said center line having substantially all of their lower surfaces when active practically unobstructed to the impinging air from all directions and with their axes lying near to the periphery of one .of said aeroplanes, and means for placing the said stabilizers in action.

8. A flying machine comprising a car, an aeroplane normally inclined to the horizontal and curved substantially from front to rear, a*se'cond aeroplane normally having its advancing edge forward of the advancing edge of the said first mentioned aeroplane and vertically disposed thereto each of the said aeroplanes extending on each side of the longitudinal center line of the said car a distance at least equal to the depth of the said aeroplane, a plurality of stabilizers mounted one on each side of the said center line with substantially all of their lower surfaces when active practically unobstructed to the impinging air from all directions, means for placing the said stabilizers in action, and connections between the said stabilizers.

9. A flying machine comprising a car, a plurality of superposed aeroplanes having their advancing edges forward one of the other and their edges to their sides retreating rearwardly and having a substantially unobstructed space between the said retreating sides, a motor, a propeller mounted on the said motor, a shaft mounted one on each side of the said car near the periphery of one of the said aeroplanes, a stabilizer turning on each of the said shafts and situated so as to receive the impinging air from all directions on the whole of the underside thereof when active, and means for placing the said stabilizers in action.

10. A flying machine comprising a car, an inclined aeroplane with a substantially free periphery extending on each side of the said car to a width at least equal to the depth ofthe said aeroplane and having its forward portion attached near to the forward portion ofthe said car and the retreating sides thereof having a substantially unobstructed space between the same into which the said oar extends, a motor, a propeller mounted on the said motor, and a device for raising one side of the machine more than the other mounted on an axis near the edges of the said aeroplane and having substantially all of its surface on one of its sides active when presented to the impinging air from all directions one on each side of the said car.

11. A flying machine comprising a car, an aeroplane with a substantially free periphery normally inclined to the horizontal mounted on the said car and extending on each side thereof, a second aeroplane also extending on each side of the said-car with its advancing edge forward of the advancing edge of the said first mentioned aeroplane, openly spaced uprights rigidly connecting the same, means for raising one side of the machine more than the other mounted so as to receive the impinging air from all directions on the whole of the underside thereof when active, means for tilting the machine front and rear mounted so as to receive the impinging air from all directions on the whole of the upper or lower surfaces thereof when in action substantially equally, means for turning the machine to the right and left, and means for operating all of the above mentioned means. i

12. A flying machine comprising a car, an aeroplane normally not having a strictly horizontal projection and extending outwardly on each side of'the car, a second aeroplane mounted above the said first mentioned aeroplane and also normally not having a strictly horizontal projection and also extending outwardly on each side of the said car one of the said aeroplanes extending outwardly to a greater distance laterally than the other said aeroplane, openly spaced uprights connecting the said aeroplane, means for propelling the machine forwardly, means for raising one side of the machine more than the other mounted so as to receive the impinging air on substantially the whole of one of the sides thereof when in action, means for tilting the machine front and rear mounted so as to receive the impinging air from every direction on substantially the whole of the upper or lower sides thereof when active substantially equally, means for turnin the machine to the right and left mounte so as to receive the impinging air from every direction on substantially the whole of each of its sides thereof when active sub- I stantially equally, and means for operating the said car, motive power for driving the said propellers, a pair of lateral stabilizers, also mounted one on each side of the said center line so as to receive the impinging air from all directions on substantially the whole of their lower surfaces when active, connections between the said'stabilizers for operating the same simultaneously, means for rectifying the vertical displacement of the machine, and means for turning the machine to the right and left.

14:. A flying machine comprising a car, an aeroplane with a free peripherynormally inclined to the horizontal and having a substantially unbroken surface from front to rear and extending outwardly on each side of the longitudinal center line of the said car to a distance at least equal to the depth of the said aeroplane, a second aeroplane also extending outwardly on each side of the said center line, openly spaced uprights connecting the said aeroplanes, means for.

' on both the top or the-bottom thereof su'b-v unobstructed to the impinging air from all directions, a device for rectifying the vertical displacement of the machine mounted so as to receive the impinging air freely when in action from the sides on the top or bot-V the longitudinal center line of the said car to a distance at least equal to the depth of the said supporting medium, a second and superposed supporting medium with a substantially free periphery also mounted on each-side of the said center line .and also normally not having a strictly horizontal projection, a plurality of openly spaced uprights connecting the said supporting mediuins near their peripheries, a plurality of forwardly driving propellers mounted one on each side of the said center line, motive power for driving the said propellers, a

device for raising one side of the machine.

more than the other to prevent rolling comprising a pair of stabilizers mounted on transverse axes one on each side of the said center line near the lateral edges of the said supporting mediums, and proj eoting at least in part beyond the same when in action and having their advancing edges as well as sub stantially the whole of their under surfaces practically unobstructed to the impinging air, a device for tilting the machine front and rear to prevent pitching mounted so as to receive the impinging air freelyv when in action from'the sides on the top or bottom thereof substantially equally, and a device forturning the machine to the right and left. Y Y v 16. A flying machine comprising a car, an aeroplane with a substantially free periphery normally inclinedvto the horizontal and having a substantially unbroken nor-,

mally curved surface extending on each side of the said car to. a distance at least equal to the depth of the said aeroplane, a forwardly driving propeller,-a motor for driving the said propeller, a device for raising one side of the machine more than the other comprising a plurality of stabilizers substantially independent of the said aeroplane and mounted on transverse axes one on each side of the said car near the edges of the said aeroplane so as to receive the impinging air on substantially the whole of the undersides thereof when in action, a

device for tilting the machine front and, rear mounted so as to receive the impinging air stantially equally when in action, a device forsteeri ng to the right and left comprising a vertical rudder, the said first and the said last mentioned devices being mounted on opposlte sides of a transverse line passing substantially through the center of gravity of the machine and the said second mentioned device being mounted on the same side of the said third mentioned device.

17. A flying machine comprising a car, an aeroplane normally curved longitudinally and having a substantially free periphery normally inclined to the horizontal, means for driving the machine forwardly, motive power for operating the said for: wardly driving means, a device mouiited on a substantially transverse axis for shifting the machine from its normal position to another position, a second and substantially similar device substantially similarly mounted for shifting the machine from the said normal position to still anotherposition, a third and substantially similar device substantially similarly mounted for shifting the machine from the said normal position to still another position, a fourth device substantially similarly mounted for shifting the machine from the said normal position to still another position, two of the said devices being substantially in line horizontally with the said means for driving the machine forwardly, and means for operating all of the said aforementioned devices. v

18. A flying. machine comprising a car, an aeroplane with a free periphery normally having a curved and substantially unbroken surface inclined to the horizontal and extending on each side of the said car to adistance at'least equal to the depth of the said aeroplane, a second aeroplane constructed in sections vertically. disposed below the said first mentioned aeroplane and also extending outwardly on each side of the said car to a distance at least equal to the depth of the said aeroplane, openlyinclined to the horizontal and having a nor-- mally unbroken surface extending outwardly from the said car to a distance at least equal to the depth of the said aeroplane, a second aeroplane also extending outwardly on each side of the said car, openly spaced uprights connecting the said aeroplanes a plurality of stabilizers normally out of action and mounted to raise one side of the machine more than the other but not to simultaneously turn the machine to the right and left and so situated as to receive the impinging air from all directions on the whole of the underside thereof when active, means for operating the said stabilizers, the said meansalso permitting the said stabilizers to always be placed completely out of action when not in use, and means for turning the machine to the right and left.

20. A flying machine comprising a car, an aeroplane with a free periphery normally inclined to the horizontal and having a normally unbroken surface extending outwardly from the said car to a distance at least equal to the depth of the said aeroplane, a plurality of stabilizers mounted in the rear of a line passing substantially through the center of gravity of the machine and situated so as to receive the impinging air from all directions on substantially the inclined to the horizontal and extending on each side of the said car to a distance at least equal to the depth of the said aeroplane, a plurality of stabilizers for raising one side of the machine more than the other mounted away from the said car and. away .from the said aeroplane each on a separate lateral extension also projecting outwardly on each side of the said car but independent of the said aeroplane projection, and means for operating'the said stabilizers.

22. A flying machine comprising a car, an aeroplane with a free periphery extending outwardly to a distance at least equal to the depth of the said aeroplane, a motor -mounted on the said car, a propeller for driving the machine forwardly mounted on the said-motor, a plurality of devices for shifting the-machine from one position to another mounted on the said aeroplane one oneach. side of the said car so as to receive the impinging air from all directions on substantially the whole of at least one of the sides thereof, meansfor operating'the said devices through the intermediacy of the said motor, and connections between the said devices.

23. A flying machine comprising a car, an aeroplane normally inclined to the horizontal and normally curved longitudinally, a motor mounted on the said car, a propeller driven bythe said motor, means comprising a horizontally disposed stabilizer mounted on one side of the said car and when active raising one side of the machine more than the other, means comprising a similarly horizontally disposed stabilizer similarly mounted on the opposite side of thesaid car and when active raising the opposite side of the on each side of the longitudinal center line of the machine, means for placing the said stabilizing means in action, a front and rear tilting device, means for operating the said device, motive .power, longitudinal shafts rotated by the said motive power,'clutches for the said shafts, propellers mounted on the said shafts, and means for operating the said clutches.

25. An aeronautical vehicle having means for accommodating an operator, an aeroplane normally inclined to the horizontal and extending outwardly on each side of the longitudinal center line of the machine, a second aeroplane vertically disposed to the said first mentioned aeroplaneand also extending outwardly on each side of the said center line, uprights connecting the said aeroplanes, a shaft having an axis lying outside the body of each of the said aeroplanes and mounted on one side of the center line, a similar shaft similarly mounted on the opposite side of the said *center line, stabilizing means mounted on each of the said shafts and situated so as to receive the impinging air on substantiallyitlie whole of one of the surfaces thereof when active,

and means for placing-the said stabilizing means in action.

26. An aeronautical'vehicle having means for accommodating an operator, an aeroplane normally inclined to the horizontal and curved longitudinally and extending outwardly -on each side of the longitudinal center line of the vehicle, a second aeroplane vertically disposed to the said first mentioned aeroiplane and alswextending outwardly on each side of the said center line, a plurality of openly spaced uprights connecting the said aeroplanes, a plurality of stabilizing means mounted between the said aeroplanes one on each side of the said center line each of the said stabilizing means being mounted so as to receive the V impinging air on substantially the whole of' one of the sides thereof when in action, means for placing the said stabilizing means inaction, and connections between the said stabilizing means.

27. An aeronautical vehicle having means for accommodating an operator, an aeroplane inclined to the horizontal, a second aeroplane vertically disposed to the said first mentioned aeroplane both of the said aeroplanes extending on each side of the longitudinal center line of the vehicle, openly spaced uprights spacing the said aeroplanes, a plurality of stabilizing means mounted one on each side of the said center line and each of the same having substantially all of one of its surfaces when active practically unobstructed to the impinging air and their axes lying near to the periphery of one of the said aeroplanes, and means for placing the said stabilizing means in action.

28. An aeronautical vehicle with means for accommodating an operator, an aeroplane normally inclined to the horizontal and curved substantially from front to rear, a second aeroplane normally having its advancing edge forward of the advancing edge of the said first mentioned aeroplane andvertically disposed thereto each of the said aeroplanes extending on each side of the longitudinal center line of the vehicle a distance at least equal to the depth of the said aeroplane, a plurality of stabilizing means mounted one on each side of the said center line each'of the same with substantially all of one of its surfaces when active practically unobstructed to the impinging air, and means for placing the said stabilizing means in action.

29. An aeronautical vehicle with means.

for accommodating an operator, a plurality of superposed aeroplanes having their adtheir edges to their sides retreating rear--.

sides, a motor, a propeller mounted on the said motor, a shaft mounted one on each side of the vehiclenear the periphery of one of the said aeroplanes, stabilizing means turning on each of the said shafts and each of the'same being. situated so as to receive theimpinging airion substantially the whole of one of its surfaces when active, and means for placing the said stabilizing means inaction. v

30. An aeronautical vehicle having means for accommodating an operator, an aeroplane normally 'inclined to the horizontal arid-extending on each side of the horizontal center line of the'vehicle, a second aeroplane also extending on each side of the said center line with its advancing edge forward of the advancing edge of the said first mentioned aeroplane, openly spaced uprights rigidly connecting the same, means for raising one side of the machine more than the other] mounted so as to receive the impinging air. on substantially the whole of one of its surfaces when active, means for tilting the machine front and rear, means for turning the machine to the right and left, and means for operating all of the above mentioned means.

In testimony vwhereof I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE FRANCIS MYERS. Witnesses:

' S. B. MJLLER,

' THEODORE LEONARD. 

